Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-13
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AGAINSq THE BLAIR MIL.
Senator saEaF MAKES n strong Con-

Senator GEaF MAKES strong Con.
sIitdiIOMaI Argument ARRtnsG AZ.
In the United States Senate Friday, the
Blair Education bill was taken up, and a
constitutional argument made against Il by
Senator Gray OF Delaware. He would have
contente1 himself, he said, with a silent
vote against the bill but when he saw II
urged, session after session, he felt 1t In
eumbent gu him to enter protest. Pro-
eeedlng to criticlse some details of the bill,
no pointed out that provision which re-.
qulres copies OF school books to be filed
with the interior department.
Mr.. George, D., (Miss.) stated that he
had opposed the insertion Of that provision J;
and Mr.. Blair stated that 1t had been in.
serted on the motion not OF friend, but OF
an enemy, OF the bill--the senator from
Kansas City (sr. Plumb.
MIR. Gray said that II was sufficient for
his purpose that that provision was In the
bill which was proposed to be passed, and
which was advocated by the senators from
Mississippi and New Hampshire (Messrs.
George and Blalr.) What action, he asked,
should be taken by Congress when the
Secretary Of the Interior reported that the
History of the United States" used In
Alabama or In Texas described, with the
warmth and natural affection which the
people Of those states have for their kith
hDb XIII lH6 kitui SAlu8ki1 luFuuku
thew had passed a quartet Of a century ago,
and did not refuse the need OF praise
which all the world was willing to pay to
brave men fighting for mistaken cause
Mr.. George said ho had found II to be d
safe rule oil conduct AL his life never 10
cross a bridge till he came to It, and not to
trouble himself about difficulties which had
not arisen. Whenever an Improper school,
8uok was attempted 10 y iJi9si on III
.#lNH 7yF ~ a I'd lFtH u -,
OsnVf ba!ilt would be time enough to meet
that attempt.
Mr., Gray-Ah no That Is just the point
to which l will direct the attention of sena-
tors. One year or two years hence, when
the poison ofthis bill has been instilled into
the veins OF the people who have received
this money, 1t will be too late to take the
backward step. In the course of his aIgu-
ment, Mr.. Gray asked what truth had been
so clearly established during the last century
| as this; that the greatest measure of liberty
and the highest type Of citizenship and civil
ization had been achieved and maintained
by local self-government2 This was an eiu,
| eating Influence wbieh tho bill ignored and
tended to destroy. He asked whether Sena-
tor Blair's claim Of power In this matter
would not grow and grow until 1t over.
| Swallowed all other things. Even the sena-
tor from Massachusetts (AIr. Hoar) had de
| clared that he supported the bill on tho
| ground that ignorance was danger, and
that 1t was within the power Of the general
| government to meet and overthrow 1t.
Such claim OF power would grow and
| grow until the south would be unable to
extricate itself from Its mallgn influence.
Mr., George asked whether senators, who
repudiated such claims OF power, and who
supported the bill on other grounds, should
abandon their position because such claims
were made.
Mr.. Gray did not mem TO assert that but
he repeated that It was dangerous fol
southern senators to admit within theil
states Trojan horse, filed with the de.
structlye elements which the bill con.
taiued.
Mr. George said he would like to have
several such Trojan horses brought Into hi
state with one or two millions In the bell,
OF each horss.
Mr.. Gray had no doubt Of that. The rea
danger to tue republic, he said, was not ii
illiteracy, but In such bills as this, whIcl
were directed against the experiment O
selt-gov6rument
The bill went over as the unfinished bust
ness, and the Senate, at 4,35, adjourned til
Monday.